FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann Dies Unexpectedly

Baumann first joined FIBA as a lawyer in '94, and was appointed Deputy Secretary General in '95GETTY IMAGES

FIBA Secretary General PATRICK BAUMANN died unexpectedly from a heart attack yesterday at the age of 51 during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to the AP. Baumann was FIBA's "top administrator for 15 years" and an IOC member since '07. He had been "seen as a potential IOC President" (AP, 10/14). He first joined FIBA as a lawyer in '94 and was appointed FIBA Deputy Secretary General in '95. Baumann in '02 was unanimously appointed to his most current position. NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER said, "Nobody was more dedicated to the growth of basketball than Patrick. He loved the game and recognized its power to transform people's lives." IOC President THOMAS BACH: "This is a great shock, which has hit us all very hard. We can hardly believe this terrible news" (THE DAILY). Read more in SBD Global.